Short-distance train services resume after 13 days

Train services came to a halt due to widespread violence during the quota reform movement protests

Short-distance train services have resumed after a 13-day closure surrounding the widespread violence during the quota reform movement protests.

The commuter and local train services from several big cities, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi and Khulna to neighbouring short-distance areas resumed on Thursday.

Kamalapur Railway Station Master Md Anwar Hossain told bdnews24.com that two trains left the station from 7am to 9am. Several other trains are scheduled to depart from the station throughout the day.

“The Dewanganj commuter train left for Jamalpur at 7am and the Turag left for Joydebpur at 7:20am. The Titas commuter departed from the station to Brahmanbaria at 10am. The Chattogram-bound Karnaphuli Express was also scheduled to leave the station, but it has been waiting to get back its rake, which was stuck somewhere. The Jamalpur commuter train will leave at 3pm.”

However, the number of passengers on the two trains leaving the station on Thursday morning was comparatively low, Anwar said.

He said, “There were fewer than usual passengers in the morning as many people do not know that services have resumed. We expect a rise in the number of passengers following the publicity through the media.”

Dhaka Airport Station Master Mahmudul Hasan also echoed Anwar.

He said, “The Dewanganj commuter left Kamalapur at 7am and the Turag left at 7:20am. Another container train left Dhaka after that. But there are fewer passengers today [Thursday]. Many might not know about the resumption.”

Bangladesh Railway said the Titas, Dewanganj, Jamalpur, Turag, Karnaphuli and Narayanganj passenger trains will run from Dhaka on Thursday. Similarly, the Karnaphuli, Sagarika and Nazirhat commuter trains from Chattogram, the Mohanganj from Mymensingh and local trains on the Mymensingh-Jharia route will run in both directions.

As many as 12 local trains will run in the railway’s western region’s Khulna-Ishwardi, Rajbari-Rahanpur, Khulna-Benapole, Benapole-Mongla, Rajbari-Bhanga and Rajbari-Bhatiapara routes on Thursday.

Following the suspension of train services since Jul 19, the Ministry of Railways’ Public Relations Officer Iftekhar Alam Rajon told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that it was decided to only operate short-distance trains for the time being.

“Those trains will resume service on Thursday. Trains will run in the daytime, when the curfew has been eased.”

A decision has yet to be made on when inter-city trains will resume service, he said.

On Jul 16, rail lines in Dhaka, Gazipur, Chattogram, Feni, Mymensingh, Rangpur, and many other areas were blocked amid protests calling for quota reforms. Train service was interrupted for several hours.

The following day, train service returned to normal. However, train service was suspended on Jul 18 amid a ‘complete shutdown’ programme declared by the protesters.

A section of the rail line in Dhaka’s Mohakhali was torched and the tracks were blocked on that day. The rail tracks on the Tongi-Bhairab section of the Narsingdi rail line were removed. Rail lines were blocked in many places outside Dhaka.

Amid the lack of security, authorities declared that train service was suspended on various routes that afternoon.

A week later, on Jul 25, the railway announced that train service would resume on a limited basis. However, it reversed the decision.